Development News for Coventry, Rhode Island

Playground and Paving Upgrades Planned for Hopkins Hill

The school district is planning paving improvements at Hopkins Hill, focusing on playground areas, an access road, and a basketball court. The project aims to address safety concerns related to uneven surfaces, cracked pavement, and worn-out basketball equipment. The plan includes removing unused concrete to create more field space, repaving sections of the access road, resurfacing the basketball court area, and replacing backboards and rims. The estimated cost is around $30,000, potentially funded by impact fees. The district is seeking quotes from multiple paving companies to ensure competitive pricing.

Middle School Roof Replacement Contract Recommended for Greenwood

The School Building Committee has recommended awarding the roof replacement contract for the middle school to Greenwood. They identified two bidders, Greenwood and Martone. Greenwood's bid was selected as it was significantly lower and they are a specialized roofing contractor with extensive experience. The committee decided against the 40-year warranty add-on, deeming it unnecessary, and confirmed the base bid provides a sufficient warranty. The town council will make the final approval to award the contract.

Western Elementary School Pursues Well Project Amidst Approval Delays

The school district is proceeding with a well project at Western Elementary School, funded by an EPA grant managed by the infrastructure bank. The project requires drilling a new well on school property, with a buffer zone extending slightly onto an adjacent property. Efforts to contact the adjacent property owner were made but unsuccessful. The project is currently awaiting DOH approval, and the district is working with the infrastructure bank and Department of Health. The district is also exploring the possibility of initiating the RFP process while awaiting approval to expedite the project.

Committee Approves Multiple Projects for Housing Aid Reimbursement

The committee is pursuing Housing Aid reimbursement for several projects. The Western Well project is not eligible for reimbursement as it is funded by federal sources. For other projects, the committee needs to approve their submission to the RIDE portal to secure reimbursements, which can be up to 50% of the project cost. These reimbursements can be directed towards capital accounts or bond payments. The committee voted to group and approve the submission of multiple projects for RIDE portal reimbursement.